2023 Fisker Ocean One Awd on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Fisker teases electric crossover, considers 11 states for production

We have some new breadcrumbs to follow on Fisker's affordable battery-electric crossover planned for 2021. The company released a new teaser image, said it has hired a veteran executive who formerly oversaw manufacturing at Volkswagen and Toyota, and said it is considering at least 11 states for a production location. First is the new teaser image, showing the still-unnamed 'ute in front three-quarters view. It gives a better sense of the crossover's raised stance and swept-back front glass than the previous frontal view, and it shows off the squared front wheel well, framing a seven-spoke wheel. There's also the slightest of definition of the rear hatch, courtesy of the dim brake light. Fisker said it has appointed Don Jackson as its senior advisor of manufacturing to spearhead strategy and site selection. Jackson has more than 40 years of manufacturing leadership, having worked most recently as president of manufacturing at Volkswagen of America, overseeing VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee plant from 2008 to 2012. He previously as senior vice president of quality and production for Toyota's Texas operations and also oversaw Toyota's manufacturing operations in Kentucky. Since leaving VW, he has worked as a consultant on lean manufacturing and other best management practices. He'll presumably continue to ply his trade in the United States, as Fisker says it's finalizing the selection of a location to build the SUV via an RFP process with at least 11 states. The company says California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are all in the running. "I share Fisker's vision of driving mass electrification forward by producing more desirable EVs for the global market here in the United States, and I look forward to building a disruptive strategy that combines Fisker's unique business model with the very best manufacturing processes that assure unparalleled results and outstanding, reliable products," Jackson said in a statement. "The Fisker team is committed to exceeding customer expectations globally." Fisker announced the new crossover last month, saying it would be priced below $40,000, will feature an 80-plus kWh lithium-ion battery pack and is targeting a range of about 300 miles in a bid to take on Tesla and its own forthcoming Model Y crossover. Final pricing and a drivable prototype is anticipated by the end of 2019. The vehicle is expected to launch in the second half of 2021.

Fisker delivers 4,700 electric cars in 2023, shares jump on quadrupled sales

Henrik Fisker shows off the coming Fisker Alaska pickup. (Getty Images)   Fisker said on Friday its electric vehicle deliveries jumped more than four-fold during the final quarter, helping it hand over about 4,700 vehicles for the year. The rise in quarterly sales volume was primarily driven by strong demand for the Fisker Ocean SUV, priced at about $69,000, the company said. Fisker started making its first deliveries to U.S. customers in June. The company will announce a plan in January to boost sales and deliveries to align production capacity with strong demand for the Ocean SUV, Fisker said. Shares of the California-based EV company were up more than 10% in premarket trading. They have lost about 79% so far this year. Smaller EV firms are facing dwindling cash reserves, pressured by high costs related to production ramp-ups and price cuts to boost demand. Fisker, which has a deal with Magna International's Austrian unit to manufacture its cars, made 10,142 vehicles in 2023. The company, however, slashed its annual production forecast twice in the past two months as it slowed down production to meet working capital needs.  

Fisker bankruptcy auction scheduled for February 12

Will the long, twisted tale of Fisker Automotive and it bankruptcy assets finally end on February 12? It might, because that's the date a bankruptcy court has now set for an auction to let the bidders decide who will take home the plug-in automaker's goods. The auction will be held at the law offices of Kirkland & Ellis in New York, according to a new report in Reuters. As we know, China's Wanxiang Group and Hybrid Tech Holdings are the two companies who are most vocal in their desire for Fisker. After an initial bid of around $25 million, Hybrid Tech is now ready to start the bidding on the 12th at $55 million and basically called itself Fisker's best friend during this troubling time in a recent statement. The controllers of the Fisker assets say they prefer Hybrid Tech's bid to Wanxiang's. Fisker stopped making the plug-in hybrid Karma in late 2012 and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year. Fisker's assets were supposed to be sold to Hybrid Tech Holdings in early January, but a last-minute stalking horse bid by Wanxiang set in motion the series of events that will lead to the auction next month.